Walton, George (1749 or 50-1804) to William Goddard
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00977 Author/Creator: Walton, George (1749 or 50-1804) Place Written: Savannah, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 March 1776 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Writes about defense preparations in Georgia. Advises that a full board of devoted men has been assembled and are in very good spirits. Indicates that they have prepared several fire vessels to defend against the British navy and erected a small battery below the town. States that no rice ships will be allowed to sail until the Continental Congress is fully resolved. Addressed to Goddard as the Inspector General of the Constitutional Post Office. Upper left corner is torn.
Walton was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence and a delegate to the Continental Congress from Georgia in 1776. Goddard was a printer and publisher who established a private postal system that was later taken over by the Continental Congress, though he remained the director. At this time, British military and naval units were posed to seize the rice ships anchored above Savannah. Though most of the rice ships were captured, the Patriots were able to drive the British away by burning some of the rice ships. The departure of the British naval force marked the end of royal government in Georgia.
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